The 36-year-old Spaniard said that he is treating in the injury with ice to try and keep the inflammation to a minimum.

“I’m putting some ice on the areas and anti-inflammatories should prevent the injury from going any further, but it could get worse tomorrow when the areas start to heal in cold.

“Happily, it seems like it’s all a muscle thing, but to be honest, I can barely move at the moment.”

The team says that a decision regarding Valverde’s presence at today’s Vuelta a España route presentation would be made prior to the event.

Last year, Valverde won La Fleche Wallonne for a third consecutive time, a stage of the Giro d’Italia and third overall, and overall victories in the Vuelta a Andalucia and Vuelta a Castilla y Leon. He also supported Colombian team-mate Nairo Quintana to third place in the Tour de France and victory in the Vuelta a España.

Valverde himself won the Vuelta a España in 2009. Last year was the first time that Valverde has ridden all three Grand Tours in the same season, and his first outing in the Giro.

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